IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge ordered probation for an Iowa businessman with deep ties to the Republican Party, saying he failed to show genuine remorse for assaulting a woman at his home last year. Judge Michael Huppert rejected a request by David Greenspon for a deferred judgment in the assault, which occurred at Greenspon’s West Des Moines mansion last November. Instead, he said that Greenspon would be convicted of assault with intent to inflict serious injury, and the aggravated misdemeanor would stay on his record even if he successfully completes his one-year probation term. Greenspon is the owner of Competitive Edge, a Des Moines advertising supply company.

MONTGOMERY – Montgomery County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Stephanie Burke today (Wednesday), said that there were two bills concerning elections that were passed by the General Assembly during their adjusted legislative session. House File 2486 changed the filing deadline for the 2020 General Election for the non-partisan offices of Township Trustee and County Hospital Trustee. For the 2020 General Election only, Township Trustee and County Hospital Trustee offices can file through Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. This change does not alter the filing deadline for County Ag Extension and Soil and Water Commissioner, which remains Wednesday, August 26 at 5:00 p.m. as well.

According to Burke, “Candidates that have already filed by the previous deadline of March 20 will still be on the ballot. We do not need any additional information. If anyone has questions regarding signature requirements and filing procedures, they can contact the Montgomery County Auditor’s office.” For more information about the 2020 General Election, please call the Auditor’s office at 623-5127. You can also follow Montgomery County Auditor & Elections Facebook page and at www.montgomerycountyiowa.com.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 21-year old Travis Joe Barret, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday night at the Sheriff’s Office. Barret was taken into custody on a warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. His bond was set at $300.,

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is plowing ahead with its plan to resume federal executions next week, for the first time in more than 15 years. That’s despite the coronavirus pandemic raging both inside and outside prisons and despite stagnating national support for the death penalty. Three people are scheduled to die by lethal injection in one week at an Indiana prison, beginning Monday. One of those set to be executed, is Dustin Honken, who was originally from Britt (IA), who was convicted in 2004 of murdering a family in a rural area outside of Mason City in 1993. Authorities say Honken was a meth king pin at the time and the man he murdered was another drug dealer who had become an informant. Honken shot the man, his wife and two children in the head.

The decision to go ahead with the executions has been criticized as a dangerous and political move by the Trump administration, at a time when there is great scrutiny on racial disparities in the death penalty and on larger criminal justice system.

(Radio Iowa) – The top Democrat in the U.S. Senate addressed a virtual gathering of about 250 Polk County Democrats last (Tuesday) night and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told the group the party’s agenda fits the moment.  “The country is thirsting for real and dramatic change,” Schumer says.

Schumer says Republicans are “on a different planet” on a variety of issues and he accused G-O-P leadership in the U.S. Senate of blocking votes on important bills, like one that would have forbidden insurance companies from dropping policies for people with pre-existing conditions. Schumer pointed to polls showing Iowa’s U.S. Senate race is competitive — and he said flipping control of the senate from Democrats to Republicans may rest on whether Democrat Theresa Greenfield defeats Republican Senator Joni Ernst this November. “We all know deep down that this truly may be the most important election of our lifetimes,” Schumer said. “It’ll be up to us to turn the page from this dark chapter in our history and let me tell you, I have never been as optimistic about our chances as I am today.”

Ernst and other Republicans have been referring to Greenfield as Schumer’s “hand-picked” candidate. Ernst told reporters yesterday (Tuesday) that she wants to debate Greenfield to hear what Schumer is telling Greenfield to say or not to say on key issues.